The second-term Democrat said Monday he did not remember taking the picture with Menz but that he regretted she left the encounter in discomfort.

“I take thousands of photos at the state fair surrounded by hundreds of people, and I certainly don’t remember taking this picture,” Franken said in a statement to CNN. “I feel badly that Ms. Menz came away from our interaction feeling disrespected.”

The state of Minnesota does not consider “intentional touching of the clothing covering the immediate area of the buttocks” criminal sexual conduct.

The accusations against Franken come as some members of Congress press for measures combatting sexual harassment on Capitol Hill.

Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York introduced legislation Wednesday with California Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier that aims to do just that. The legislation, dubbed the Member and Employee Training and Oversight On Congress Act, or ME TOO Congress, would make response training for sexual harassment mandatory for all members and staff, including interns and fellows.